Whitman, Philadelphia Explained

Whitman
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Philadelphia
Subdivision Type3:City
Subdivision Name3:Philadelphia
Mapsize:300px
Pushpin Map:Philadelphia
Postal Code Type:Zip code
Postal Code:19148
Area Code:215, 267 and 445

Whitman is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is bounded on the west by Sixth Street, on the east by Front Street, on the south by Bigler Street, and on the north by Snyder Avenue. The name "Whitman" was adopted when the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge was being constructed in the 1950s.[1] In 2015, Whitman and nearby South Philadelphia neighborhoods were named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the safest and most family-friendly neighborhoods in Philadelphia.[2]

Demographics

According to the 2000 Census, Whitman, combined with Queen Village and Southwark, has 26,300 inhabitants. The racial makeup of the community is White, 60 percent; Black, 27 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent. About 40 percent of the population is under 18. Whitman has a very large population of Irish Catholics. The 2010 Census showed progressive changes in demographics, including an increase in total inhabitants, with a marked increase in Asian American and young professional population.[3]

Major landmarks

The George Sharswood School and SS United States are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Playgrounds

Lawrence E. Murphy Recreation Center, 300 W. Shunk St. This 4.9-acre park has playground equipment, a pool, a basketball court, and sports fields. The five-room building has a gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms. The site was renamed in honor of Lawrence E. Murphy in 1964. He was an employee of the recreation department for 37 years. He worked at this site when it was known as "Greenwich Recreation Center."[5]

Mifflin Square, 500 Wolf St. This 4.2-acre park in South Philadelphia has large trees, walkways, playground equipment and a basketball court.[6]

Reverend Edward P. Burke Playground, 200 Snyder Ave. A 1.7-acre site with playground equipment, a basketball court and hockey court. Located adjacent to the Whitman branch of the Free Library. The site was named in honor of Reverend Edward P. Burke in 1963. Burke was pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church from 1950 until his death in 1960. He was a vocal opponent of housing and expressway construction projects that threatened to destroy homes in the area. He was ordained in 1922 and served as a U.S. Army chaplain in WWII, retiring with the rank of major.[7]

Education

Schools

The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools in the Whitman neighborhood.

Neighborhoods assigned to Sharswood are also assigned to Furness High School.[10] [11]

Public libraries

The Free Library of Philadelphia Whitman Branch serves the community.[12]

Notable people

District and local organization

State Senate district

State House district

City Council district

Ward

Police district

Civic groups and town watches

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The place where you live: Whitman.
  2. neighborhood/|title=Whitman: Up and Coming South Philly Neighborhood Philadelight|date=2015-08-09|newspaper=Philadelight|access-date=2017-02-25|language=en-US}}
  3. Web site: The 2010 Census Philly. www.philly.com. 2015-10-23.
  4. Web site: Whitman Neighborhood: Up and Coming South Philly. Philadelight Magazine. 10 August 2015 . 2015-10-23.
  5. https://www.phila.gov/parks-rec-finder/#/location/lawrence-e-murphy-recreation-center/56a8f8697a8cee5e3a25b0b3 Lawrence E. Murphy Recreation Center 300 W. Shunk St.
  6. https://www.phila.gov/parks-rec-finder/#/location/mifflin-square/56a8f8227a8cee5e3a25ae29 Mifflin Square 500 Wolf St.
  7. https://www.phila.gov/parks-rec-finder/#/location/reverend-edward-p-burke-playground/56a8f81c7a8cee5e3a25ae01 Reverend Edward P. Burke Playground, 200 Snyder Ave.
  8. "George Sharswood Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  9. "John H. Taggart Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  10. "A Directory of High Schools for 2009 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 15 (PDF p/ 17/40). Accessed November 6, 2008.
  11. "Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 4, 2011.
  12. "Whitman Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 19, 2012.
  13. Web site: Whitman Plaza. www.whitmanplaza.com. 2015-11-09.
  14. Web site: Whitman Council Inc. whitmancouncil.org. Whitman Council. 2016-10-05.